Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime in Colombia: Trends in 2017

• In Event: Desafios del Crimen Organizado en América Latina

Abstract

This paper examines the trends in drug trafficking and organized crime in Colombia in 2017. From 2000 to 2015, the U.S. government has invested $10 billion in Plan Colombia, which was initially a counternarcotics program designed to combat drug cultivation, production, and trafficking. Plan Colombia has had successes increasing security levels in Colombia. However, coca cultivation increased by 44 percent in 2015. In addition, Colombia has seen a fragmentation of organized crime groups as many of the former paramilitaries have demobilized into criminal bands referred to as the BACRIM. This paper analyzes the results of Plan Colombia, focusing on drug trafficking and organized crime. In February 2016, President Obama announced a second phase of Plan Colombia, known as Peace Colombia, to help the Colombian government in the peace process. This piece will examine the differences between Paz Colombia and Plan Colombia, focusing on the role of the U.S. in the initiative. In sum, this article will examine the major challenges in drug trafficking and organized crime that Colombia faces.

Author

• Jonathan D Rosen, Florida International University